The Quran informs us that God can provide inspiration to anyone He chooses and that this is not limited to only messengers. For example, we see that the disciples of Jesus received inspiration.
5:111 “Recall that I inspired the disciples: ‘You shall believe in Me and My messenger.’ They said, ‘We have believed, and bear witness that we are submitters.’ “
We see that the mother of Moses received inspiration from God.
28:7 We inspired Moses’ mother: “Nurse him, and when you fear for his life, throw him into the river without fear or grief. We will return him to you, and will make him one of the messengers.”
Additionally, we see that divine inspiration was given to the prophet that allowed him to deliver this Quran.
6:19 Say, “Whose testimony is the greatest?” Say, “GOD’s. He is the witness between me and you that this Quran has been inspired to me, to preach it to you and whomever it reaches. Indeed, you bear witness that there are other gods beside GOD.” Say, “I do not testify as you do; there is only one god, and I disown your idolatry.”
42:52 Thus, we inspired to you a revelation (ruh) proclaiming our commandments. You had no idea about the scripture, or faith. Yet, we made this a beacon to guide whomever we choose from among our servants. Surely, you guide in a straight path.
The second way that God can communicate to humans is from behind a barrier. One example of this mechanism is found in the history of Moses (2:253, 28:30).
27:7 Recall that Moses said to his family, “I see a fire; let me bring you news therefrom, or a torch to warm you.”
27:8 When he came to it, he was called: “Blessed is the One (who is speaking from) within the fire, and those around it.” Glory be to GOD, Lord of the universe.
7:143 When Moses came at our appointed time, and his Lord spoke with him, he said, “My Lord, let me look and see You.” He said, “You cannot see Me. Look at that mountain; if it stays in its place, then you can see Me.” Then, his Lord manifested Himself to the mountain, and this caused it to crumble. Moses fell unconscious. When he came to, he said, “Be You glorified. I repent to You, and I am the most convinced believer.”
Another example of a barrier being used as part of the communication is the delivery of the word to Mary. However, this delivery occurred through an angel messenger that came to her in the form of a human to deliver God’s message to her.
19:16 Mention in the scripture Mary. She isolated herself from her family, into an eastern location.
19:17 While a barrier separated her from them, we sent to her our Spirit (Ruh). He went to her in the form of a human being.
19:18 She said, “I seek refuge in the Most Gracious, that you may be righteous.”
19:19 He said, “ I am the messenger of your Lord, to grant you a pure son.”
19:20 She said, “How can I have a son, when no man has touched me; I have never been unchaste.”
19:21 He said, “Thus said your Lord, ‘It is easy for Me. We will render him a sign for the people, and mercy from us. This is a predestined matter.'”
The above example of Mary also perfectly depicts the last described communication method, utilizing a messenger. God’s messengers’ sole duty is to deliver God’s message to the people. They serve as bearers of good news and warnings.
36:13 Cite for them the example of people in a community that received the messengers.
36:14 When we sent to them two (messengers), they disbelieved them. We then supported them by a third. They said, “We are (God’s) messengers to you.”
36:15 They said, “You are no more than human beings like us. The Most Gracious did not send down anything. You are liars.”
36:16 They said, “Our Lord knows that we have been sent to you.
36:17 “ Our sole mission is to deliver the message.”
36:18 They said, “We consider you bad omens. Unless you refrain, we will surely stone you, or afflict you with painful retribution.”
36:19 They said, “Your omen depends on your response, now that you have been reminded. Indeed, you are transgressing people.”
36:20 A man came from the other end of the city, saying, “O my people, follow the messengers.
36:21 “Follow those who do not ask you for any wage, and are guided.
This is why it is incumbant upon the sincere to obey God and His messenger, because the messenger is the vessel by which God delivers His message to the people.
5:92 You shall obey GOD, and you shall obey the messenger, and beware. If you turn away, then know that the sole duty of our messenger is to deliver the message efficiently.
24:54 Say, “Obey GOD, and obey the messenger.” If they refuse, then he is responsible for his obligations, and you are responsible for your obligations. If you obey him, you will be guided. The sole duty of the messenger is to deliver (the message).
God goes so far as to let us know that if Muhammad uttered any words other than what he was commanded, either from himself or due to peer pressure from others, God would have stopped the revelations to him, ended his life on Earth, and doubled the retribution for him in the Hereafter.
69:40 This (Quran) is the utterance of an honorable messenger.
69:41 Not the utterance of a poet; rarely do you believe.
69:42 Nor the utterance of a soothsayer; rarely do you take heed.
69:43 A revelation from the Lord of the universe.
69:44 Had he uttered any other teachings.
69:45 We would have punished him.
69:46 We would have stopped the revelations to him.
69:47 None of you could have helped him.
17:73 They almost diverted you from the revelations we have given you. They wanted you to fabricate something else, in order to consider you a friend.
17:74 If it were not that we strengthened you, you almost leaned towards them just a little bit.
17:75 Had you done that, we would have doubled the retribution for you in this life, and after death, and you would have found no one to help you against us.
Interestingly, these three mechanisms are also utilized by Satan and his constituency to lead people away from God.
7:27 O children of Adam, do not let the devil dupe you as he did when he caused the eviction of your parents from Paradise, and the removal of their garments to expose their bodies. He and his tribe see you, while you do not see them. We appoint the devils as companions of those who do not believe.
15:39 He said, “My Lord, since You have willed that I go astray, I will surely entice them on earth; I will send them all astray.
15:40 “Except those among Your worshipers who are devoted absolutely to You alone.”
7:16 He said, “Since You have willed that I go astray,* I will skulk for them on Your straight path.
7:17 “I will come to them from before them, and from behind them, and from their right, and from their left, and You will find that most of them are unappreciative.”
In the following verse, we see that God has permitted the enemies of every prophet to inspire each other with fancy words to deceive and that the reason for this is for those who want to follow Satan to expose their true convictions.
6:112 We have permitted the enemies of every prophet—human and jinn devils—to inspire in each other fancy words, in order to deceive. Had your Lord willed, they would not have done it. You shall disregard them and their fabrications.
6:113 This is to let the minds of those who do not believe in the Hereafter listen to such fabrications, and accept them, and thus expose their real convictions.
In the other example we see that the devils inspire individuals to defy God’s commands in the Quran.
6:121 Do not eat from that upon which the name of GOD has not been mentioned, for it is an abomination. The devils inspire their allies to argue with you; if you obey them, you will be idol worshipers.
All barriers have two sides, separating one side from the other. In Mary’s example above, we saw that a barrier separated her from others when she isolated herself in a remote location.
19:16 Mention in the scripture Mary. She isolated herself from her family, into an eastern location.
19:17 While a barrier separated her from them, we sent to her our Spirit (Ruh). He went to her in the form of a human being.
This also corresponds with the barrier that is present when people read the Quran, separating those who have access to the Quran from those who do not.
17:45 When you read the Quran, we place between you and those who do not believe in the Hereafter an invisible barrier.
17:46 We place shields around their minds, to prevent them from understanding it, and deafness in their ears. And when you preach your Lord, using the Quran alone, they run away in aversion.
Though this barrier may not be visible to us in this world, it is on full display on the Day of Judgment. The Quran tells us that those who are ontop of this barrier will now be able to recognize each side by their looks.
7:40 Surely, those who reject our revelations and are too arrogant to uphold them, the gates of the sky will never open for them, nor will they enter Paradise until the camel passes through the needle’s eye. We thus requite the guilty.
7:41 They have incurred Hell as an abode; they will have barriers above them. We thus requite the transgressors.
7:42 As for those who believe and lead a righteous life—we never burden any soul beyond its means—these will be the dwellers of Paradise. They abide in it forever.
7:43 We will remove all jealousy from their hearts. Rivers will flow beneath them, and they will say, “GOD be praised for guiding us. We could not possibly be guided, if it were not that GOD has guided us. The messengers of our Lord did bring the truth.” They will be called: “This is your Paradise. You have inherited it, in return for your works.”
7:44 The dwellers of Paradise will call the dwellers of Hell: “We have found our Lord’s promise to be the truth, have you found your Lord’s promise to be the truth?” They will say, “Yes.” An announcer between them will announce: “GOD’s condemnation has befallen the transgressors;
7:45 “who repel from the path of GOD, and strive to make it crooked, and, with regard to the Hereafter, they are disbelievers.”
7:46 Between both of them will be a barrier, and on the Purgatory will be people who recognize each side by their looks. They will call the dwellers of Paradise: “Peace be upon you.” They did not enter (Paradise) through wishful thinking.
7:47 When they turn their eyes towards the dwellers of Hell, they will say, “Our Lord, do not put us with these wicked people.”
7:48 The dwellers of the Purgatory will call on people they recognize by their looks, saying, “Your great numbers did not avail you in any way, nor did your arrogance.
7:49 “Are those the people you swore that GOD will never touch them with mercy?” (The people in the Purgatory will then be told,) “Enter Paradise; you have nothing to fear, nor will you grieve.”
If we follow God’s message, then we will be guided by God’s leave, and if we choose to follow any other message, then we will be following Satan and destined for Hell. We saw this in the above example of the devils who inspire individuals to go against God’s decree in the Quran.
6:121 Do not eat from that upon which the name of GOD has not been mentioned, for it is an abomination. The devils inspire their allies to argue with you; if you obey them, you will be idol worshipers.